A Mother's Request

*** Narrative Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Mark 10:42-45 CLASSIC POEM: The Mother of Zebedee’s Children George MacDonald She knelt, she bore a bold request, Though shy to speak it out: Ambition, even in mother’s breast, Before him stood in doubt. “What is it?” “Grant thy promise now, My sons on thy right hand And on thy left shall sit when thou Art king, Lord, in the land.” “Ye know not what ye ask.” There lay A baptism and a cup She understood not, in the way By which he must go up. Her mother-love would lift them high Above their fellow-men; Her woman-pride would, standing nigh, Share in their grandeur then! Would she have joyed o’er prosperous quest, Counted her prayer well heard, Had they, of three on Calvary’s crest, Hung dying, first and third? She knoweth neither way nor end: In dark despair, full soon, She will not mock the gracious friend With prayer for any boon. Higher than love could dream or dare To ask, he them will set; They shall his cup and baptism share, And share his kingdom yet! They, entering at his palace-door, Will shun the lofty seat; Will gird themselves, and water pour, And wash each other’s feet; Then down beside their lowly Lord On the Father’s throne shall sit: For them who godlike help afford God hath prepared it. CONTEMPORARY POEM: Zebedee’s Gift Philip Kolin SNIPPET: … Then one morning everything changed. The sky spired with an eastern light as the waves wrapped our boat like a prayer shawl. … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]